Apparatus for brazing articles



March 1, 1949. A. c. DE LoRME ET AL 2,463,158

l APPARATUS FOR BRAZIN-G ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan, 12, 1946 m05 N/ H WEC w05 AC ,By w. M

ATTORNEY March 1, `1949. A. c. DE LORME ETAL 2,463,153

APPARATUS FOR BRAZING ARTICLES Filed Jan. 12, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 JNVENTQRS y A .'c. DEL ORME A ce. scHEscH y am A T TORNEI Patented Mar. "l, 1949 .UNITED .S TATES PATIENT `O FF l CE 2,463,158 PBAR'ATUSFOR BRAZING ARTICLES Alfred C. De Lonnie, Maplewood, N. J., and vCarl 1G. Schesch,v New York, N. JY., y'assgnorsrto Wes'taern Electric Company, Incorporated, aN ew York, N. a corporation of New York Y Application January 12, 1946, Seral'lo. 640;'784

(Cl. l11S-59) This invention relates ltofapparatus Ifor brazing articles, particularly vthose formed with metallic bodies r`having non-metallic :.elements, .such :as glass, sealed thereto.

In brazing articles composed yentirely of llike metals, the l articles may 'be readily Fheated to the desired temperature for br-azing, 'but when .one or 'more of the articles has -non-metallic A.elements, such as glass, 'previously .seale'd thereto, care must be taken to avoid `damaging 'the .elefments, not only 4in heating. -the :articles .to v.the brazing temperature, abut in .cooling the articles and 'the elements tolavoid breakingthe elements.

.An ob-ject of the invention is Vto `provide an apparatus tor lbrazing ia metallic .member to a metallic :body without `damaging .a nonemetallic element sealed .on the body.

The `apparatus includes a spider with :radially proj eating .arms vzrnovable intlnmittently between a floading :'Station, apreheating station, a `hot heating station, a brazing station, an Iannealing station and a .coolngzstation 'Thefspide-r arms are hollow for the :continuous -circulation ,of tLa heavy gas, .such :as lcarbon .dioxide 'gas, there through and through the :hollow metallic bodies which are to be rbrazed :to metallic cover plates. This gas drives air-,out :of :the hollow Vbodies-and maintains themtree of air internally ,during the complete fcycle :of .operation 4ofthe apparatus to prevent oxidization l'of 1 the inner surfaces of the bodies and members. The `hollow bodies `of the articles 'to lbe zbrazed, :and their cover plates, are formed to .receive al :length aof A:fusible material, such as `silver asolder, therebetween. Duri-ng :the operation of the .apparatus :non-metallic or glass elements, which havebeen previously vsealed rto the `metallic abody, `are :heated slowly with the metallic body and .member :at the A:preheating station. During therest :intervals ibetween intermitterit rmovement Lof the `apparatus 'the tem- `perature .of .both i the :metallic .fparts andthe nonmetallic elements are yraised at the hot heating Vstation after which the body :and .fmetallic mem.- `bers :are .heated l:to a fbrazing temperature at `the brazing `station to `iuse -the fiusible `material and cause internal brazing of fthe :metallic members fto the rbody. At :another .station :heat is applied to :the non-metallic elements :to :prevent A:rapid cool-ing thereof 'during the .-slow partial :cooling lofv fthe :body and .metall'c covers. :Finally'fthe vmetallic :members and 'body .are icooled @by the :application x.of air :under pressure thereto.

`With 'the the metallic body, athe ffusible material `and :the fmetalliceoversinclampsmt thetendsbf theispider exception for the amaai assembly of arms and 'the removal of the completed article from the apparatus,operationof the apparatus is carried out automatically. This automatic control is associated .with .an electric :motor drive,.'an'd brake therefor, to drive lthe spiderlbetween stations `and to stop the assemblies a given length of time at each station, which timeis conf trolled :by variable timing units. The rheating means at .the annealing station is lalso under the automatic control of solenoid valves 'and variable timing units.

Other objects 'and advantages -will be .apparent .trom the :following detailed description when considered in vconjunction with the ac.- companying drawings, wherein Fig.- 1 'fis a fragmentary top plan yiew of @the apparatus;

lig..2 "is La side Yelevational view zof the apparatus taken along the 'line `2---2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary .seotional view taken along the line f3.-f3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is ,an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken Jalong the line ,4-:4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. `5 is an `enlarged fragmentary sectional .view taken alone the line V."i--li :of Fis. 3;

Fig. .6 is :a fragmentary sectional view :of e portion of L.ne of lthe metallic bodies and a metallic .cover therefor after ithe Aloraziris operation has been completed;

Fig. f1 lis a fragmentary "detailed View illustrating the heating means at' the .'brazing station;

Fig. :8 is 4a `.fri'aginentary detailed View illus: trating Vthe :heating :means at the hot heating station;

Fig. 9 'is a ,fragmentary detailed View illustrati.- ing the 4heating Ymeans at the annealing station;

Fig. l10 is 1a Y'fragmentary 'detailed Iview .of the air nozzles at the cooling station;

Fig y11 is a fragmentary sectional along the line Il-II of Fig. 1;.and

Fig. 12 is a Wiring ,diagram A.of the 1.control jsystem ior the apparatus.

Referring now to the apparatus, a frame x15 supports a motor 1.6 and :a speed reducing unit ilzl operatively connected Ato the lmotor :by .a belt .drive 18. 1A :brake [i9 :is ,provided with asuitable Vme chanism (not shown) electrically `operated `in `the conventional manner to apply a .braking for'ce to the motor .shaft 20 immediately 4-upon :.deenerf- .gization of the motor and to free the Ashaft .20 of vthe braking force Vimmediately upon `ener-- .gization ofthe motor.

.An output shaft :2,1 fof :the unit .H has apinion ',-22 mounted 'thereon which drives aa gear "23 of ia view taken ments such as bulbs 10, 1|

vertical shaft 24. The shaft 24 supports a table 25 and is fixed thereto so as to rotate therewith."

The table 25 supports a spider 26 with radially extending arms 21.

The arms 21 are identical in structure and a description of the arm shown in Fig. 3 will apply to each of the other arms. The central portion of the spider includes a head 28 having a compartment or chamber 29 and an annular flange 30 secured to the table 25. A supply line 32, for carbon dioxide gas under low pressure above atmospheric pressure, is connected to a swing joint 33. The swing joint 33 is connected by a pipe 34 to the head 28 and the compartment 29 thereof. Threaded apertures 34 are formed 'in the head 28 at equally spacedpositions forconnections with their respective arms 21.

The arm 21 in Fig. 3 has a pipe connection 35 extending from its aperture 34 and is connected by aiiexible hose 36 to another pipe connection 31. The next portion of the arm is a valve 38 tol control the flow of the carbon dioxide gas through the arm. A swing joint 39 is connected to the v'alve38 by a pipe connection 40 and to a hollow shaft 4| by a pipe connection 42. The hollow shaft 4| is rotatably supported in bearings 43 mounted upon the table 25. A pinion 44 is iixedto the hollow shaft 4| intermediate the bearings 43 and interengages a rack 45, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter.

Y A U-shaped clamp 41 is iixedly mounted upon theouter end of the shaft 4| and closes the outer end of the shaft. A leg 48 of the bracket 41 supports a tube 49, one end of which communicates with the interior of the hollow shaft 4|, the other end supporting a ball valve socket 50. The arm 48 of the clamp 41 has a bearing portion 5| in which a shaft 52 is journalled with its axis at right angles to the hollow shaft 4|. A collar 53 is pinned to the outer end of the shaft 52 and a clamping jaw 54 is fixed to the inner end of the shaft. The other arm 55 of the clamp 41 has a bearing portion 56 (Fig. 11) to receive a shaft 51which supports a clamping head 58 on the inner end thereof. A fixed collar or enlarged integral portion I 51 of the shaft 51 is held against rotation by a pin positioned to ride in an elongate aperture of the bearing. The shaft is forced to the left by spring 59, housed in the bearing portion 56 behind the collar |51. The clamping member 58 may be moved to the right by an internally threaded crank 60 mounted upon a threaded end 6| of the shaft 51. The member 5,8 is recessed at 62 forming an annular ange 63 to engage its respective cover member 64 of the articleto be brazed. The clamping member 54 is substantially identical in structure with the clamping member 58 in that it is also provided with a recess and an annular flange such as those shown in Fig. 11.

In the present embodiment, the article to be brazed is commercially known as a magnetron tube. This tube comprises a hollow cylindrical body 65 of massive copper and flat disc shaped end members 64 of copper to be brazed on the open ends of the cylindrical body under a high degree of heat. The body 65 includes projections 56, 61, 68 and 69 of copper. Non-metallic eleand 12 formed of glass have previously been sealed to their respective projections 66, 61 and 68. A tube 13 is sealed to the projection 69. The tube 13 is open at this time and through it, and the projection 69, one

end of a U-shaped tube 15 extends, the other endof the'tube 15 being connected in the valve l 4 50 to open the valve and thus open communication between the tubes 15 and 49.

In preparing each article for its travel through the apparatus, asbestos covers 16 (Fig. 3) are positioned on the glass bulbs 1| and 12 and a metal cover 11 is yplaced over the bulb 10 and secured in place by a clamp 18. A previous step should be considered at this time regarding the "preparation of each article or magnetron tube for mounting in the apparatus. The body 65 has an annular groove at each open end (Fig. 6) to receive a Vfusible material 8|, such as silver solder. The adjacent cover 64 is formed to cooperate with the groove 80 in the body 65 to provide an annular cavity cylindrical in crosssection. This cavity is filled with the fusible material prior to the time the article is positioned between the clamping members 54 and 58. The flanges of the clamping' members distribute the force of the spring 59 ,to firmly hold the covers 64 in place and to support the article rmly as it travels through the complete cycle of the apparatus. Y

There are six stations for the apparatus, the one at thebottom of Fig. 1 being the loading station 82. The table with the spider is rotated in a counterclockwise direction to successively advance the articles intermittently in this direction from the loading station, to a'preheating station 83, a hot heating station 84, a brazing station 85, an annealing station 86 and a cooling station 81. An arcuate oven 90, having nues or exhaust ports 9| and 92 above the stations 83 and 84, houses these stations and the clamped articles disposed therein. The entrance and exit ends 93 and 94 of the oven have openings 95 therein, while the inner wall 96 has an opening 91 connecting the openings 95 for the travel of the clamps and their articles into, through and out of the oven.

At the preheating station within the oven 90, there are pairs of gas burners 99 and |00 positioned to direct flames toward the cover 11 for the element 10 and toward the metallic body and members. Supply lines I0| and |02 for the burners 99 and |00 continuously supply gas to the burners during the operation of the apparatus.

At the hot heating station 84, gas burners |03 direct flames toward the cover 11 for the element 10, while gas burners |04 and |05 direct flames to spaced portions of the metallic body and members. At the brazing station gas burners |01, disposed at spaced positions, direct names to the metallic body to bring it to a brazing temperature to melt the fusible material 8|.

At the annealing station, gas burners |08 are positioned to direct flames to the cover 11 of the element 10 to control the cooling of the element 10 during the natural cooling of the metallic body and members in air at room temperature. At the cooling station 81, air nozzles |09 direct air under pressure to spaced positions of the metallic body and members to cool themto approximately room temperature so that the completed article may be removed from its clamp.

During the intermittent movement of the table and spider about their common axis, the positions of the clamps with the 'articles are controlled so that they will' be in the correct positions to pass vthrough the oven and pass between the various burners at stations 83, 64 and 86, and between the air nozzles' at station 81. This means includes arcuate cams ||0 and having low portions ||2 and |.|3 respectively adjacent the loading station 82 and-the brazing station 85.

leine i It has a fhig-h pararon H4 sement the :Stations "8f3 and 481|, While the cam "lll has fa high portion] |5 adjacent "the stations 86 and 81'. 'The racks 45 -of each spider arm extends downwardly through bearing members H18 (Fig. 3) in `its respective aperture H9 of the table 25 `and sup- 'por-ts a roller |20 Von the lower end thereof positioned to ride Von the earns and lSwitch actuating cams `|2| are Vadjus'tainy mounted upon the table adjacent each V'spider arr."L (Fig.` f4) to successively actuate toggle switches |22, |`23 and |24. These switches are 'mounted upon a bracket A"|25 support-ed 'by the Trame l"I5, The `function of the toggle switch i12/li `is to vcause deenergization fthe motor iii and operation of the motor brake Il) to 'stop the table and spider. The function ofthe toggle switch '|22 is to `operai-te a "solenc'id valve `|21 l'(fili'gs. 9 and 712') for 'o'pei'iirig4 a gas supply line :|28 'to lthe burners |08, While the switch |23 causes Venergization of" the solenoid valve |26 to `open an air line l|30 for the 'burners |08. suitable pilot light maybe employed to -gnite the ygas at the burners at this time, or the valves valve |21 maybe held partially open to accomplish this same purpose.

Attention is now directed to Fig. 12 which illustrates `the control circuits for the apparatus. The motor i6 receives its electrical energy 'from supply lines |30 under the control of contacts tilt or la relay |32. `Supply lines |33 and |34 are for the main 'control 'circuits and include a -n'ianually operable switch |35 for lcompleting a circuit through the relay |32 when the toggle switch im is in itsnormal position. This circuit may `be traced "from the line A|33 through switch |35, relay |32, Contact |36 rof toggle switch |24, through connection |37 Ito line |34.

VAnother switch 1| 30, which is manually closed and remains closed during the operation or" the apparatus connects timing units |39 and |40 in the control circuit to limit the time the motor |55 remains energized. These units maybe of the commercially known types, the unit`|39 being rendered effective upon movement oi/ the toggle switch |24 by one of the cams |2| :(Ffig. 4), to direct electrical energy to the uni t |40 after a given length of time, the unit |40 causing energization of the relay |32 after an additional length of time. yThe unit |30 includes a synchronous motor 14|, with a solenoid release |42, totdrive a contact arm 4|`||3vclockwise `it `engages a variable contact |44. 'The circuit to the motor '14| is completed from line |533 through switch |35, connection |45, through a vlower contact -oi switch 3 8, 'through motor iil'ii', vbreak contact |46 of relay |41, upper contact df switch |33, contact y|48 ofv toggle switch v|24 to connection it'l "di line |34. Movement of the -toggleswitch `|24 vfrom contact |36 to contact |43 deenergizes `'a relay |32 to open the circuit to the motor and stop rotation of the table and spider. The time the table and spider remains stopped is controlled by the units |39 and |40. In the present instance, the variable contact hifi is setto be engaged by the movable contact HiB twelve minutes after the toggle switch |24 has been moved to the contact |48. When the `circuit is closed between the Acontacts "|43 and iffi'l, the relay |41 is venergized Vopening contact |45 Aand closing 4contacts V|50 and 5 IBy opening contact |46, the motor `|f4| 'is deenergized. fClosing of contact completes valockingwii'rciit 'fe'r the relay l1 and closing lof. fcontact |50 comiiiletes` aicir'cui-t through -an indicating lanip y'|52 its and also through the timing unit 1:40. The -timing ich includes a slew 'acting relay 163 to 'clse its contact |54 after a "given length `tif time, such as `30 seconds. The purpose Vof itwo timing unit's with aninterm'ediate signal |52 is to warn the operator fa suitable Vlength of time prior to the next intermittent movement fof the table and ispidr.

The toggle switches l 22 rand 54.23 (Eigsue and 12.) render timing units |58 and |59 respectively to Acause energi'zati-on for their respective :solenoid valves im and 12e `to `simul-tan'ecusly -ropen the gas line 20 and the lair line |30 for the burners |08 at the yarln'ealing 'Statica The 'timing' unit |53 l'the present instance lis y'set for thirteen ini-ni'tes and tw Seconds While itirhng ."iihit i559 is i.seit fer oialy thirteen minutes. The reason for "the diiiei'fence -in tiine Ibein'fg tc 'avoitl blowin'g out the haines "at the burners 108 by turning 'oir the vair prior to the closing er partial closing o the gas valve.

Upon clesing the 'toggle switch |22, a `circuit Vis lcompleted from line |33 at connection |62 through fsw-itch "|22, break contact "|63 "of a relay -i 5ft, through .fa rel-ay |65 vto line |34 at connection |65. Energization of the relay |65 completes a circuit-for 'the winding of thesole'noid valve |21 from connection |62 through a make contact |61 of relay |65, through the winding of the solenoid valve `|2`=`l itoline |34 :at 1connection 166. At the same time, make contact |68 oi relay 165 compl-etes a locking circuit for the relay under the centrol 'of a break 'contact `|65! of relay `|`=64. This circuit may be traced .iron-1 line |733 at lccnnection T1 62, through contact |69, closed vcontact |68, `:relay 465 to line |34 iat connection `|66. "The closing 'cf 'Contact 5| 61 completes 'a --circuit through the v'svnch-ronc'lls 'motor |10.

which drives a contact `pointer |1| toward a variable lcimt'ac't |1@2. When fth'e 'pointer i|"|`| engages lthe 'conta-'ct |72, :a `circuit is completed through fthe relay |T6'E, `iro'rn line 133 vat connection |62, through contact "|12, pointer Hi, relay 1||`4`fto li-ne |34 at connection 1:66. Energiza- `tion `Ao'f the relay |64 Ybreaks contacts 63 and 7565i v'main-rs A":Olfltact fl'M. AThe vClosed 'Contact '|14 completes a locking circuit fthr'ough Ythe ,relay |-6`i until the timing unit is 'reset to its `n`orm`al position. "The breaking oi c'oritacts |63 and |69 opens the initial and locking #circuits through the relay |65 causing eenergization thereof. As a result, fthe "solenoid valve |2'| is ldeenergized 'and allowed -to move 'to 4its normal lor closed 'or Apartiallly Aclosed position.

An 'view of the A'fact that the 'timing unit |59 is identicalwiththetiming unit |5`8,like -reiierence numerals Aare applied Ato the respective par-ts of both units and Vit 'is believed that a 4dupli'cation 'of ldescription is Eunnecessai-y.

Upon `cc'nsideririg the operation I'of Vthe appa ratusflet it -be assumed that one tof lthe `articles with its 'metallic body 65 and cover members 164, together with the "intermediate ffu'sible inerribers are rm'ly held between the clamping inembers E54 and 5B `in the cla-'mp 4l at the loading st'atinf82 -T`(Fig. 1). 'When this has been "accomplis'he'd, one lci lthe tubes 15 is 'mounted in place Withoneend'extending throughthe members 69 land '13 land into -t'he boiiy "65, the tube T5 being smaller in diameter than the members through whichthisparticularendextends'lto allow for the escapernerrt `of yair from the article. 'The other 'end 'of :the-'tube '15 ist'cor'irfectec'l lwith its respective 'ball valve 50, ithis Icorin'ecticn qcperiiig lthe valve tb alltll 'I 5611 L7159*.'ss2l'ig'e *Of Gallxbdn iD'X'ide gas from .the supply line 32 (Fig. 3) through the chamber 29 and through various hollow parts of the respective spider arm 21, past the valve 50 and through the tube 15 into the article. Carbon dioxide gas being heavier than air, it is important that the article be inverted at the loading position for a given length of time to allow filling the article with the gas and the forcing of the air thereby out of the article. The continued 'forcing of the carbon dioxide gas under a low pressure into the article during itstravel through the apparatus keeps air from entering the article and thus eliminates oxidization of the inner surfaces of the body and members during the various heating steps and the i-lnal cooling step.

When the initial article is loaded in the ap-paratus, the switch |35 (Fig. 11) is closed and if the switch |38 is closed, the apparatus is set in motion. It is preferred that the operator close the switches prior to the loading of the initial article so that the timing unit |39 may start to function. The lamp |52, with additional lamps, if desired, disposed at inverted positions will warn the operator 30 seconds before the table and spider begin their intermittent movement. At each rest period of the apparatus, ra completed article is removed from the clamp at the loading position and the parts for a new article are loaded in the clamp.

As the clamp with the assembled parts of the article leaves the loading position, the roller |20 of the rack 45, associated with this particular clam-p, rides on the cam H forcing the rack upwardly to rotate the pinion 44 and the hollow shaft 4| to invert the clamp and article so that the article will be in the proper position to enter the opening 95 in the entrance end of the oven 90. The article will also be in a position with the element l0 and its cover 'VI between the burners 99 and the metallic body and cover members between the burners |00 at the preheating station. The article and clamp remain in this position controlled by the cam ||0 as they travel to the hot heating station 84. The term hot heating is used to distinguish between preheating and brazing heating. At the hot heating station, the temperature of the metallic, as well as the non-metallic parts', are raised above their temperatures at the preheating station, but below the temperature required for brazing. After the article reaches the hot heating station 84, the adjacent cam roller |20 leaves the cam ||0 so thatl at the brazing station, the article and its clamp may be rotated by the operator to position portions of the body and cover members l so that external brazing may be performed at the junctures of the body and members. The clamp with the article may be rotated 180 from the positions they are in when leaving the oven 90. During this rotary movement the shaft 4| is rotated in its bearing 43 and the rack 45 is moved up or down accordingly. If the article should remain inverted upon leaving the brazing station 85, the cam roller |20 will ride upon the cam lll to move its rack 45 upwardly to again rotate the shaft 4|, the clamp 41 and its article so that the element 'l0 and its cover TI may be positioned between the burners |08 at the annealing station 86. The clamp and the article are held in this position by the cam while at both the annealing and the cooling stations. The application of heat to the element 10 and its cover TI prevents the element from cooling too rapidly during the normal cooling of themetallic parts of the article. At the coolingsta- 8. tion, the jets of air are directed to the article to cool it so that it may be readily removed from' its clamp when it reaches the loading station 82.

This operation may continue with one loading station and ve processing stations. During the brazing of one article, two other articles are being prepared for brazing and three previously brazed articles are respectively annealed, cooledy and positioned to be removed from the apparatus. With the apparatus operating intermittently, allowing su'icient time at each station for the different functions required, considerable time is saved as the operator, if working upon one article at a time, must wait until the metallic parts are heated sufciently to perform the brazing operation. Furthermore, the presence of non-metallic or glass elements requires special care in heating and cooling the articles to avoid breaking the elements. With the accurate timing in the control mechanism', the operator is relieved of this problem. During each intermittent movement of the apparatus, the cam |2I, adjacent the arm of the spider entering the oven 90, operates the switches |22, |23 and |24 (Fig. 4) in succession to respectively open the gas and air valves |21 and |29 at the annealing station and to stop the motor l5 by opening its control contacts |3| and energize the magnetic brake |9 to stop the shaft 20.

Although specific improvements of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that they are but illustrative and that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention as delned by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

An apparatus for brazing articles assembled of metallic members and hollow metallic bodies having elements, formed of non-metallic materials such as glass, sealed thereon, and fusible materials interposed between the bodies and members, the apparatus comprising a hollow spider rotatable about its axis and having radially extending arms, clamps carried by the arms to grip and support the articles, a heating station, a brazing station and a cooling station disposed at spaced positions about the spider, energizable means to move the spider intermittently to advance the articles successively to the stations to cause them to be preheated, heated to a brazing temperature to melt the fusible materials andthen cooled, means to render the moving means deenergized during variable time intervals between intermittent movements of the spider, means to direct a gas heavier than air into the spider, and means connecting the spider arms with the hollow bodies of the articles to direct the gas into the bodies to force air therefrom.

ALFRED C. DE LO-RME. CARL G. SCHESCH.`

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

